The agency found that 17 people in 11 states, including Missouri, Minnesota and Wyoming, have been infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Typhimurium linked to contact with pet hedgehogs. The CDC interviewed 15 people, of which 13 reported contact with hedgehogs that they bought at pet stores, from breeders or online.
The CDC collected samples collected from eight hedgehogs in Minnesota, which included three hedgehogs at the homes of infected people. The agency has not identified a common supplier of hedgehogs linked to the illnesses.
Salmonella infections typically result in diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. Two people infected with Salmonella have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported.
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